The violin is one of the customary instruments in the traditional music of the West, and has been used in orchestras and ensembles for hundreds of years. It is a familiar sound in many of the most popular classical works, and is known to listeners in many parts of the world. Its students should be aware of how to hold a violin correctly, as part of an optimum playing technique.
The violin may be more commonly associated with the music of classical composers, or orchestral applications, but it has a far wider scope than that. Some pop musicians have used it, most notably the instrumentalist Vanessa Mae, who usually performs on an electric version. There are other examples of its contemporary use in modern genres.
Its size makes it convenient for people to play. It is easily portable and it is also light enough to be manageable for those lacking physical strength, or kids. They can play it for long periods at a time or take it with them to classes and shows. It is also known for its longevity. The premier make, namely Stradivarius, is actually no longer produced, since the master craftsman who made them died more than two centuries ago. Yet they are still used in professional concerts and they fetch high prices when they are sold.
Holding a violin is the first part of its playing technique that should be mastered. There are two reasons for this. The first applies to any instrument, and is that the repeated motions of playing will lead to strains and injuries if the nature of those motions is not as it should be. The second reason concerns the quality of playing. Using the wrong technique makes it harder or even impossible to play the music correctly. The violin does not have any indication on its neck as to where the fingers should be placed in creating different notes, so a faulty playing position will make that process a lot more difficult.
The player traditionally holds the violin in their left hand, and plants its base on their clavicle. They may then sometimes use their lower jaw to keep the instrument in the same position, by pushing downwards on it slightly. The left hand works the strings to facilitate the notes in the music. This is not a simple physical stance to maintain and it requires practice and experienced tuition to master.
One typical problem is that the lower jaw exerts excessive pressure on the instrument, so as to prevent it from moving off the clavicle. Alternatively, the instrument's neck is gripped too hard. What people should realise is that the violin is supported alternately by the shoulder, jaw and left hand, so playing requires a constant balance between the three. Applying too much pressure or holding onto the neck too hard are poor habits and should be abandoned immediately.
Shoulderpads are used by some musicians to provide more stability to the instrument. The danger with these is that the pad that is used is too thick, which results in the violin resting at an awkward angle. The pads should not be too smooth either, as the wood will simply slide off them, defeating their purpose entirely. The larger the shoulder's area, the smaller the pad has to be.
It is not negotiable that musicians should develop the correct technique in holding and playing their instruments. If they acquire an undesirable playing habit, it may be extremely difficult to unlearn later. The person may not even be able to play some music if they do not use the approved technique. Practising the correct methods is a long-term investment that is made towards maximising the satisfaction that the instrument can provide.
The violin may be more commonly associated with the music of classical composers, or orchestral applications, but it has a far wider scope than that. Some pop musicians have used it, most notably the instrumentalist Vanessa Mae, who usually performs on an electric version. There are other examples of its contemporary use in modern genres.
Its size makes it convenient for people to play. It is easily portable and it is also light enough to be manageable for those lacking physical strength, or kids. They can play it for long periods at a time or take it with them to classes and shows. It is also known for its longevity. The premier make, namely Stradivarius, is actually no longer produced, since the master craftsman who made them died more than two centuries ago. Yet they are still used in professional concerts and they fetch high prices when they are sold.
Holding a violin is the first part of its playing technique that should be mastered. There are two reasons for this. The first applies to any instrument, and is that the repeated motions of playing will lead to strains and injuries if the nature of those motions is not as it should be. The second reason concerns the quality of playing. Using the wrong technique makes it harder or even impossible to play the music correctly. The violin does not have any indication on its neck as to where the fingers should be placed in creating different notes, so a faulty playing position will make that process a lot more difficult.
The player traditionally holds the violin in their left hand, and plants its base on their clavicle. They may then sometimes use their lower jaw to keep the instrument in the same position, by pushing downwards on it slightly. The left hand works the strings to facilitate the notes in the music. This is not a simple physical stance to maintain and it requires practice and experienced tuition to master.
One typical problem is that the lower jaw exerts excessive pressure on the instrument, so as to prevent it from moving off the clavicle. Alternatively, the instrument's neck is gripped too hard. What people should realise is that the violin is supported alternately by the shoulder, jaw and left hand, so playing requires a constant balance between the three. Applying too much pressure or holding onto the neck too hard are poor habits and should be abandoned immediately.
Shoulderpads are used by some musicians to provide more stability to the instrument. The danger with these is that the pad that is used is too thick, which results in the violin resting at an awkward angle. The pads should not be too smooth either, as the wood will simply slide off them, defeating their purpose entirely. The larger the shoulder's area, the smaller the pad has to be.
It is not negotiable that musicians should develop the correct technique in holding and playing their instruments. If they acquire an undesirable playing habit, it may be extremely difficult to unlearn later. The person may not even be able to play some music if they do not use the approved technique. Practising the correct methods is a long-term investment that is made towards maximising the satisfaction that the instrument can provide.
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